Indianapolis wants to host Super Bowl LII
Indianapolis mayor Greg Ballard announced Friday that the city plans to put in a bid to host Super Bowl LII, which will be played in 2018.
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, Ballard and several other community leaders made the announcement at Lucas Oil Stadium, the Indianapolis Star reported.
The NFL will announce in October which cities will contend for hosting Super Bowl LII and select the winning bid in May 2014.
Indianapolis hosted the Super Bowl in 2012.
Tampa, New Orleans, Denver, and Minneapolis are also expected to bid for the 2018 game.
Allison Melangton, chairwoman of the Indianapolis Super Bowl Bid Committee, said the city needs to raise $30 million to successfully bid. She said the city's donors, the Super Bowl Village, Lucas Oil Stadium, a strong base of volunteers and community passion make it a strong candidate to host the game.
Event organizers estimated in 2012 that Indianapolis made $176 million worth of direct economic impact and gained more than 250 hours of national and international television exposure.
The NFL's deadline for cities to submit a letter of intent to bid for the Super Bowl LII is at midnight.
The Super Bowl Advisory Committee will officially announce the short list of contenders at the league's fall meetings in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 7-9. Then, NFL owners will select the winner during the spring meetings in Atlanta on May 19-21 next year.
